Electron-discharge device



- w. a. HOUSKEEPER ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed 09:12.19? 1922 //7///'4/77 d //0// keeper p v d f I M477} Patented 7, 1928. I

TJNTTED STA wrmi nia res; PATENT OFFICE.

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This invention relates to electron discharge devices and especially to those in which'the anode is of cylindrical configuration. r

In order to obtain the maximum efiicienOy in a device of this character, the cathode, during operation, should be equally distant throughout its length from theadjacent surface of the anode. Whenextremely high voltages are being rectified, there is exerted on the cathode a very decided pull in the direction of the anode under the influence of an electrostatic field developed between the electrodes. This pull tends to cause the strands of filamentcomprising the cathode to bow toward the anode. Because of the fact that the filament comprising the cathode expands considerably whenheated, a special arrangement of the filament is necessary to counteract the effect of the movement toward the anode of the middle portions of these strands under the influence of the field between the cathode and the anode. Otherwise, the middle portions of the strands will be closer to the anode than the ends thereof and the device will not function efi'iciently...

An object of the invention is an arrangenient of the filamentofan electron discharge device whereby, when operating, all points of the filament will be substantially the same distance from the inner surface of theanode. l 3

Another object of the invention is to pro: vide a supporting structure for cathode whereby, when active, it will lie approxi mately on the outline of a cylinder.

These objects are accomplished by so arranging the filament supports that the filament, when strung over the supports, lies on the surface of a hyperboloid of one sheet. Thus, the mid-portion of each strand of filament is further removedfrom the anode than are its ends, but when the rectifier is operating and the filament expands, the central portions of the strands bow outwardly under the influence of the electrostatic field and lie on the surface of the cylinder defined by the filament supports. In this condition each part of the filament is mechanically supported by neighboring parts of the filament and finally by the filament supports. Thus minimum spacing between cathode and anode is obtained throughout the length of the cathode.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the inposed of copper, has fused .to its tapered edge, a glass portion- 11,, whioh'supports a name 12,511 in accordance with the dis-' closure in Patent No. 1,630,431 issued May 31,1927 to me. Supported by the frame 12 isa block '13 of insulating'material from which is supported a-second block 14: of; insulating,material by: means of the rods 15 xtending between and attached to each of said blocks in themanner described in said copending application. 1

A. plurality of filaii'ient supporting members are carried by each of the insulating blocks 13'and 1e, said members projecting from the opposing faces of the insulating blocks and being arranged to define a cylin'-' der. The supporting memberscarried by the block 13, preferably six in number, consist oftw'o posts 16, and 17 andthooks 18,. 19,20, and 21. Theposts 16 and 17 pass through apertures in the block 13 and are held in place by nuts-arranged at both sides. of the block. posts 16 and 17 are slotted and threaded. The slots in the ends of the posts 16' and 17 extending:toward the block 14, receive the ends of the cathode'22' and the slots in the other ends of the posts receive'the leading-in wires 28, the filament and leading-in wires beingclamped in tlieends' of the posts by means of nuts. The posts 16 and 17 thus act as the leads forthe filamentand are arranged as close together as is consistent with mechanical strength and electrical insulation. The hooks 18, 19, 20, and 21 have their shanks passing through apertures in the block 13 and are held in position by nuts arranged at both sides of the block. These hooks lie on the circumference of a circle passing through the posts 16 and 17 and divide the larger section of the block between the posts 16 and 17 into five equal sections.

The filament supports, carried by the block 14, consists of five hooks 23, 24, 25, 26, and

Both ends of each of the 27, the shanks of which pass through apertures in the block 14 and are held in position by means of nuts arranged at both sides of the block 14. The hook 23 is angularly displaced from the post 17 through an arc substantially equal to that from the midpoint ot the are between the post 16 and the hook 2t to the midpoint oi the are between the post 17 and the hook 18. Each of the hooks 24:, 25, 26, and 27 are spaced successively from each other through an are equal to that between any of the successive filament supporting members 18 to 21.

Starting with the post 17 the end of the filament is laid in the slot and clamped thereto by means of a nut and is then strung over the hook 23, back to the hook 18, thence to the hook 24, back to the hook 19, thence to the hook 25, back to the hook 20, thence to the hook 26, back to the hook 21, thence to the hook 527 and back to the post 16, where the end is arranged in the slot and clampedv to the post by means of a nut. The strands Y of the filament between the various supporta mg points are arranged along straight hues and the filament lies substantially on the surface of a circular hyperboloid of one sheet.

Because of the fact that it is impractical to make sharp bends in the filament, the latter does not define an exacthyperboloid of one sheet although it approximates such a figrangement, the portions of the filament be tween the supports normally lie further from the anode than do the portions at the points of support. However, when the rectifier is operating and the filament heat-ed, the metal expands and the strands bow outwardly under the influence of the field between the anode and filament to arrange themselves along the outline of the cylinder defined by the supports, as is shown in Fig. 2. Thus, all portions of the filament are mechanically braced and spaced from the anodean approximately equal distance and an extremely high degree of eificiency is obtained'in this device.

It is tobe understood, of course, that, while this invention has been disclosed in connection with an electron discharge device of the exterior anode type, it is equally applicable to any type otdischarge device in which the anode is of cylindricalconfigura- 'tion.

The invention claimed is:

1. An electron discharge device comprising a pair of insulating blocks, filament supporting members carried by each of said blocks, said filament supporting members being arranged on the circumferences of equal circles, a filament strung between said supporting members, each supporting member being angularly displaced from the supporting member next in contact with the filament so that when contracted, theportions of filamentbetween the points of support lie within the confines oithe cylinder defined by said supporting members and when expanded, lie in the surface of said cylinder. 1

2. An electron discharge device compris- I mg a pair of insulating blocks, filament supporting members carried by each of said blocks, said filament supporting members being arranged on the circumferences of equal circles, a cylindrical anode with its axis coincident with a line connecting the centers of said circles,a filament strung be tween said supporting members, each supporting member being angularly displaced from the supporting member next in contact is contracted the portion of the filament between supports is further from said anode than the portion at said supports, and when said filament is expanded and subjected to an electrostatic field, all portions of said filament lie at substantially equal distances from said anode.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of October A. 1).,

WILLIAM G. HOUSKEEPER.

.with the filament so that when said filament 

